Egypt Files Complaint Against Referee After World Cup Loss to Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) argues with referee Francois Letexier, of France, during the World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo)

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with FIFA against referee Francois Letexier following Egypt's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday. Egypt looked set for one of the biggest wins in its World Cup history after taking a 2-0 lead. However, Argentina fought back in the last minutes, with Lionel Messi scoring one goal and setting up another before Enzo Fernandez netted the winner in stoppage time to send the defending champions into the quarter-finals. The Egyptian camp was unhappy with several refereeing decisions during the match. These included a goal ruled out after a VAR review and a penalty appeal that was not reviewed in the build-up to Argentina's winning goal.

According to Spanish publication Diario AS, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA against French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team. The report said the EFA has asked FIFA to investigate what it believes were controversial decisions during the match. It has also requested that Letexier and his officiating team be removed from the rest of the tournament, claiming they made crucial errors.

After the match, Egypt coach Hassan also questioned several refereeing decisions and suggested that factors beyond the game itself influenced the result. "We looked better than the reigning champion - better in everything -, but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it," Hassan said. "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running," he said in the post-match press conference. "In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champion received support at every level," he added.

Argentina completed the comeback after trailing 2-0 with 11 minutes of regulation time remaining to secure a 3-2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals. Egypt had gone ahead through goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico. The African side also had another goal ruled out after a VAR review, a decision that proved significant as Argentina recovered to win the match. Argentina will now face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.